Reprinted from The Washington Times , 5am -- May 21, 1998
House vote slams Clinton on China waiver
By Nancy E. Roman and Bill Gertz
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
The House declared overwhelmingly yesterday that President Clinton's waiver allowing China to acquire sensitive technology was against the national interest and warned Mr. Clinton against granting new waivers before or during his trip to Beijing next month.
"It's the prudent thing to put on the brakes on this thing until we sort out how much damage has been done," said Rep. Duncan Hunter, California Republican, just before the 417-4 vote.
The measure, an amendment to a defense authorization bill, was authored by House National Security Committee Chairman Floyd D. Spence, South Carolina Republican. Four Democrats opposed the measure: Reps. Lee H. Hamilton of Indiana, Alcee L. Hastings of Florida, Jim McDermott of Washington and Robert Wexler of Florida.
On a 364-54 vote, the House also voted to block future satellite exports to China.
The votes send a loud political message amid growing public concern about reports of U.S. technology transfers to China and charges that the transfers may have been linked to campaign contributions from the Chinese government or from U.S. defense companies to the Democratic Party.
The White House yesterday pledged full cooperation with the House probe, a shift from its sometimes combative responses to past congressional inquiries into administration scandals.
"Let me emphasize that the administration is committed to cooperating fully with the Congress," White House Counsel Charles F.C. Ruff said in letters sent to House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott before yesterday's votes.
Mr. Ruff and White House Press Secretary Michael McCurry both denied that the administration's decision in February to issue the waiver was influenced by campaign donations or that the transfer of satellite technology had compromised U.S. national security. Mr. Ruff contended that the administration was already aiding House efforts to investigate the controversy, but House Republicans disputed that.
"We have yet to see any action that backs up those words," said Michelle Davis, spokeswoman for House Majority Leader Dick Armey of Texas.
A House GOP aide said the move yesterday to restrict waivers was a reaction in part to a report in The Washington Times in March that disclosed a secret "missile deal" with China to be signed at the upcoming summit in Beijing, set to begin in late June.
According to a memorandum from the White House National Security Council, the administration is considering offering China access to missile technology -- now barred under human rights sanctions -- if Beijing halts missile exports to Iran, Pakistan and other developing states.
The proposed deal was raised recently by senior U.S. officials in Beijing, but the Chinese rejected the plan, according to U.S. officials. Clinton administration officials have denied there are plans to sell missile technology to China.
The often harsh rhetoric on the House floor reflected what members of both parties said was a shift in public opinion in the wake of the latest China revelations.
Rep. Mark Souder, Indiana Republican, said that in previous cases, including the Paula Jones and Monica Lewinsky sex scandals, Mr. Clinton has enjoyed a presumption of innocence. This time voters are more skeptical and the onus is on Mr. Clinton, the lawmaker said.
"People understand nuclear war," he said. "It doesn't have to be an illegal act. They are taking the money in bagfuls, and overruling their own State Department. To most people, it looks like a trade-off."
Rep. Jose Seranno, New York Democrat and one of the most liberal members of the House, said the allegations are different because they involve a foreign government.
"I don't know that there is any truth to it," he said, "but it certainly sounds different."
On Monday, Mr. Gingrich announced plans to appoint a select committee to investigate the technology transfers, as well as charges the Chinese military tried to infiltrate the American political system.
He told fellow Republicans in a closed meeting yesterday that the new select committee, headed by Rep. Christopher Cox, California Republican, would also look into any quid pro quos involving political contributions by Loral Space and Communications Ltd. -- one of two companies granted waivers for Chinese satellite technology transfers -- as well as questionable Democratic Party donations linked to Indonesia's Lippo Group.
Republicans kept up an all-day barrage against the president, going to the floor largely uninterrupted by Democrats.
"Every man, every woman and every child may be jeopardized," said House Government Reform and Oversight Committee Chairman Dan Burton, the Indiana Republican who has been presiding over the House's campaign fund-raising probe. "Was it treason? I don't know. I hope not."
Some Democrats even expressed concern.
"This is a serious problem if it is true," said Rep. Norman Sisisky, Virginia Democrat and a member of the House Armed Services Committee.
In the Senate, Mr. Lott announced that Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard C. Shelby, Alabama Republican, will lead the chamber's investigation into the technology transfers to China, into charges China tried to influence the 1996 elections with secret donations and into whether U.S. companies followed export laws in doing business with China.
"It's also the right place to examine the threat posed to the American security by Chinese proliferation and ballistic missile programs," Mr. Lott said.
Mr. Shelby said he expects the administration to cooperate with the probe. "There should not be any stonewalling by this administration ... where national security is involved," he said.
Mr. Souder said the revelations first reported last week were a political windfall for Republicans. Mr. Gingrich just two weeks ago chided Mr. Burton's committee for its handling of the campaign finance probe.
In many ways, China has replaced the Soviet Union as the country Americans fear most. Republicans hammered away at the fact that the transfers went to the globe's only remaining communist nuclear power and that China's human rights record, on issues ranging from abortion and civil liberties to religious persecution, has come under sharp attack in recent months.
Rep. Jim Ryun, Kansas Republican, noted that China has 13 long-range missiles aimed at the United States and considers the United States its top security threat.
"I find it reprehensible that the president seeks to advance the military capability of a communist country while refusing to provide a defense for the American people," he said.
Nine senators joined a growing number of critics calling on Mr. Clinton to delay his long-planned June trip to China pending answers to the probe on the technology transfer.
"It is imperative that this country present a unified foreign policy, one free of partisanship and untainted by allegations of illegal dealing, particularly when our president embarks upon an important foreign mission," wrote Republican Sens. Tim Hutchinson of Arkansas, Spencer Abraham of Michigan and Jeff Sessions of Alabama Republican.
As of last night, 150 House members had signed a similar letter authored by Rep. Sue Myrick, North Carolina Republican.
- Warren P. Strobel contributed to this report.
Copyright 1998 News World Communications, Inc. Reprinted with permission of
The Washington Times.
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